Top 5 number 5s in Tests for New Zealand

As cliched as it may sound, the New Zealand cricket team has always been regarded as being greater than the sum of its parts and that was the case for much of their cricketing history.

However, at the same time, it must be said that they have had plenty of outstanding cricketers as part of their team over the last half a century and many of them have gone on to become greats of the game.

The Kiwis have also had their fair share of excellent middle-order batsmen, who represented the team with distinction at the number 5 position and many of them are still counted among New Zealand's finest batsmen.

Here is a look at 5 of their finest number 5s.

#5 John Reid

The right-hander was among the earliest greats of the New Zealand team and back in the 1950s and 1960s, he was the team's middle-order dasher.

John Reid played in 58 Test matches for New Zealand from 1949 and 1965 and played at number 5 in 25 of those games. Reid's game was based on scintillating stroke-play and he was well known for taking on the bowlers at every opportunity.

He was best known for hard hit shots to all corners of the ground and it is often said that he would have gone on to become one of the better limited-overs batsmen had he been born in a different era.

Still, he remains the 5th highest run scorer for New Zealand at number 5 with an aggregate of 1051 runs in 25 Tests and an average of 30.91. He made 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries as a number 5.

#4 Mark Burgess

The former New Zealand captain played in 50 Test matches for his country from 1968 to 1980 and went on to become one of the more dependable batsmen for the Kiwis in the middle-order.

Out of those 50 Test matches, Mark Burgess played at number 5 in 28 of them and the right-hander was particularly known for his excellent technique that allowed him to hold is own against the fastest bowlers in the business.

On the other hand, he could be an excellent stroke-maker when he wanted to and according to those who watched him play, he was an excellent driver.

Although he does not have the best record in England, he did play well in Pakistan and helped the Kiwis win a series there back in 1970. While batting at number 5, Burgess made 1316 runs at an average of 32.09 and hit 2 hundreds, in addition to 6 half-centuries.

#3 Ken Rutherford

The former right-handed batsman, who had also been the captain of the side is often regarded as someone who did not quite fulfil his potential as a batsman.

Despite that, Ken Rutherford remains the fourth highest run scorer at number 5 for New Zealand and in a career spanning around a decade from 1985 to 1995, he played at the position in 25 out of the 50 Test matches in his career.

He was an excellent stroke-maker but consistency was often missing from his game and that is one of the reasons why his career ended prematurely.

However, he still remains one of New Zealand's more prolific players in that particular position and scored an aggregate of 1248 runs at an average of 32.84. He made 2 centuries and 9 half-centuries.

#2 Nathan Astle

The right-hander is one of the best batsmen to have played for New Zealand and over the course of his decade-long career from 1996 to 2006, Nathan Astle became one of the most important middle-order batsmen for the Kiwis.

Astle was an excellent stroke-maker and in addition to that, he had the defensive technique to hold his own in trying conditions as well. However, it was his ability to score at a fast clip that made him such an important player at number 5 and in a career spanning 81 Tests, he played at the position in 62 of those.

On the other hand, he was a decent player of spin bowling as well and that made him an excellent middle-order batsman for the Kiwis at number 5.

He remains the most prolific number 5 in the history of New Zealand cricket with an aggregate of 3181 runs, at an average of 37.86. Astle also made 8 centuries and 16 half-centuries.

#1 Brendon McCullum

He is one of the greatest modern captains in New Zealand's history and his contributions as a batsman in the middle-order batsman, makes Brendon McCullum the best number 5 in their history.

He played for New Zealand in 101 Test matches from 2004 to 2016 and it was towards the end of his career that the wicket-keeper decided to move himself to number 5.

However, in those 28 Test matches, he proved to be an outstanding player at the position and when one considers his career strike-rate of 64.60, it becomes evident that he was an extremely damaging player for the opposition.

McCullum's game was that of an ultra-attacking batsman and he did so with great relish against some of the best bowlers in the world. While he was able to score quickly, he scored heavily as well and in those 25 Tests, he made 1887 runs at an excellent average of 43.88.

His career-best score of 302 not out against India was also scored while batting at the position. McCullum made 5 centuries and 5 half-centuries during the course of his sting at number 5.